Blair is five. How we got there I do not know, but this spunky gal grows more amazing each year.

Blair got the celebrate her birthday at school this year. She picked out her outfit in honor of her Gus party on Saturday - a Gus "dress" that is beginning its fourth season with us and is now a top!

I had to work on some things for the school so I was in the library when she picked out her book to dedicate to the library for her birthday. They make such a big deal out of it, and Blair really loved it.

She picked an Alice in Wonderland reader.

They put a sticker with the dedication in her name.

She got a birthday bracelet!

She had her little party at school for snack. Gigi made Gus cupcakes.

She had a great birthday and is so excited about her party! She has come a long way from five years ago!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Well I wrote a post from the hospital, but it posted blank! I'll try again just to recap what went on during the week of pneumonia!

Blair got sick on Tuesday the week before Thanksgiving. I took her to the clinic to make sure she didn't test positive for the flu. She had fever, and she felt pretty bad. It was negative. So I took her to her doctor on Thursday for a chest x-ray. We went home thinking everything was viral, and on Friday she started perking up, wanting to play cards that evening. The nights had been rough with oxygen. She takes it off, the monitor alarms, I put it back on, repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And mama gets no sleep.

So Friday evening I thought she was getting better, but Friday night was horrible. Her heart rate was in the 160s, and I couldn't keep her sats up good. I was up every few minutes it seemed. And Blair kept saying, "Mama, I feel bay-ad." It was awful. About 4am that morning, I had a feeling she needed to be in the hospital. I called her doctor at 7, and he admitted her. He told me he would call me when her room was ready, and I said that we would be in the ER. I was worried. I had already pretty much packed the car by the time he called me back after checking with the hospital -- which wasn't very long.

We stayed in the ER for a couple of hours. They were able to do labs and start an IV. When we got to the PICU Step Down, they started her on high flow oxygen at 12 liters. She was breathing 60 - 70 times a minute. Her CRP was elevated, so she got some medicine. She was miserable. The night wasn't too bad, and Sunday was a little better. She was breathing a little better, and I felt like she felt a little better. Except for the steroid part -- she was a raging diva on Sunday afternoon! Wow. Those steroids did a number on her.

Then Monday she was worse. Her respiratory rate was back up, and she felt bad. We had to go back up on her flow and oxygen. I had a bad day too. I was so worried about her. We had found out that her blood cultures were positive for the pneumonia bacteria. She was on the right meds, but she felt bad. They started chest PT on her, and I think it helped. She hated it, but I do think it was tremendously helpful. Then Monday evening was better, and Tuesday we started the downhill slide towards home.

Tuesday and Wednesday were good days. Her respirations were coming down, and her oxygen requirement was too. She still didn't feel all that great, but she wanted to eat and watch movies.

Thursday, Thanksgiving, was a good day. She and I played every single game and did every activity we had in the room. Sweet friends and family had visited and brought gifts for Blair, and she really enjoyed them at this point. (And I so enjoyed the visits! Because Brad had a cold and my family had Leighton, I was by myself with Blair a good bit. It was so nice to have company and food!) So Thursday, we painted toenails, Blair painted my nails all colors, we colored, we did play-doh, we played with all of the dolls and stuffed animals she had received, we applied tattoos, we watched movies, we watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, we ate, we read books, we did lace cards.... you name it.

Friday morning first thing, we headed home! Blair felt much more like herself, although she was weak. I am so thankful to God for healing her once again, for the people He placed in our path to care for her, and for our friends' and family's prayers. We are so grateful to be home with this special girl. God has big plans for her.

He struck this pose long enough for me to get my camera and take several pictures.

He was mad at Blair because she hit him. He was doing something she didn't want him to do - playing in Gus' water, I think. I think she hurts his feelings because he just wants to be like her. He copies everything she does. (And she is not supposed to hit him, of course. You know how it goes....) But yes, he hits back.

Tonight we helped Brad tag some cotton bales, and those things just look too fun not to play on!

First the tag lady did her thing.

Then it was playtime. Blair started by jumping from one bale to the other.

Then she realized they made great slides.

Leighton joined in (this required a minor miracle in that I had to get my rear up there to hold him!), and we all had a ball.

I feel like we haven't been very involved in cotton this year because Brad is usually picking when the kids are in bed (he's doing night shift), but this was a lot of fun!

On tagging bales... We tag bales for the gin. The tags give each roll (or bale) an identification number and tell the gin what farmer and farm the cotton was from. 4 bales are tagged as a set because that is how many the gin trucks can haul at a time. We notify the gin of cotton that needs to be picked up, and they come and get it!

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Child of God, wife of a farmer, mom to a miracle, RN; picture taker, animal lover, Spanish speaker, world traveler, former high school teacher. I love food, knitting, blogging, and living in a small town. I write about a little of all of the above!

Brad is my husband of 6 years and the reason I live across the branch. From a very young age he knew he'd be a farmer. God gave him the love and the talent -- and he's the best looking and the best dressed farmer I know! He's funny, creative, and he's the most wonderful husband and father. He's the one that can make Blair light up like no other.

Blair is four! We are so blessed to have her. She was born very sick, but God gave her strength and brought her through it. She has hearing loss called Auditory Neuropathy and wears hearing aids. She also has chronic lung disease, but you wouldn't know by seeing her! She is the busiest, funniest little thing who keeps us laughing and on our toes. I thank God for her every day.

Leighton is the happy roly poly who joined our family this summer. He has been a joy and is as sweet as his big sister! He's such a blessing, and we're so thankful for him!